New Federal Law Could Fund Wis. DNA Collection

Created: 01/13/2013 2:28 PM KSTP.com
By: Kaitlin Stevens

A new federal law could give the state Justice Department more money to start collecting DNA upon arrest.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker has promised to include provisions in his executive state budget calling for police to collect DNA from anyone arrested for a felony, anyone arrested for certain misdemeanor sex offenses and from all adults convicted of any misdemeanor.

The effort is expected to cost at least $7.2 million over the next two years. Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen has proposed shifting money away from schools, prisons, gang prevention and defense attorneys to pay for it.

But President Barack Obama signed a measure last week that establishes $10 million in annual grants for states to start DNA collection at arrest.

Walker says the law could prove helpful for Wisconsin.

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